Andrew Wiggins Caves In To COVID-19 Vaccine Pressure ... Gets The Jab
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Andrew Wiggins just made a nearly $15 million decision -- the Warriors forward has officially put his COVID-19 standoff to rest and is vaccinated, Steve Kerr confirmed Sunday.
The 26-year-old was previously hellbent against getting the jab ... saying he had nothing against other folks being vaccinated, but it was his personal decision to elect against it.
Considering the San Francisco Dept. of Public Health currently requires anyone 12 or older to be fully vaccinated to attend indoor events, Wiggins would have missed every Warriors home game this season -- and the paycheck that comes with it.
But, Kerr says the saga is over ... telling reporters the star decided to cave in and get the vaccine.
"Andrew got vaccinated," Kerr said. "He just told me today that he was fine with us acknowledging it and that will be the end of it. I'm not going to answer any questions beyond that."
As we reported before, Wiggins had applied for a religious exemption with the NBA ... which was denied.
Now that Andrew is vaccinated, the Warriors can put their focus on the upcoming season as they look to some noise in the Western Conference this season.
Kerr said he expects Wiggins to see some action Monday night as the GSW tip off their preseason against the Portland Trail Blazers.
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Clint Eastwood Awarded $6.1 Mil ... in Lawsuit Against CBD Retailers
Clint Eastwood could see a LOT of green soon ... he's just been awarded nearly $6.1 million in his lawsuit against CBD retailers.
The legendary actor -- and the company Eastwood runs that owns rights to his likeness, Garrapata -- just scored a $6.1 million default judgment after the companies he sued failed to respond to his lawsuit.
You'll recall, Eastwood and Garrapata argued a Lithuanian CBD company falsely made it look like he endorsed their products and illegally tried to profit off his name, likeness, and goodwill. In addition to the damages, the CBD retailers were also permanently blocked from using Clint's name and likeness moving forward.
As we reported ... Clint sued in July 2020 after claiming several CBD retailers pimped their products by using fake interviews with him where he gushes over the weed merch.
The lawsuit claimed the CBD company made it look like Clint endorsed the CBD products on the "Today" show. The company took a photo of an actual interview Clint did on the show and flashed up words that appeared to be an endorsement.
Clint made it crystal clear in his pair of lawsuits -- he's never sat down with any of these companies and, under no circumstances, endorsed their products.
He also accused the companies of defaming him with their lies to lure customers into thinking he was in bed with the CBD products. Although the judge did say the ads were not defamatory on their face, the court found that Eastwood and Garrapata did enough to prove their case that the CBD company misappropriated his good name to sell the products.
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Tom Brady Brief Hug With Bill ... After Bucs Beat Pats
5:54 AM PT -- 10/4 -- Shortly after Tom Brady beat the Patriots ... he got some love from his ex-coach too, sharing an embrace on the field with Bill Belichick that lasted just a few quick seconds.
Broadcast cameras caught the brief hug ... one in which Bill appeared to say a few words to Tom. Brady's ex-offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, meanwhile, also came in for a long clinch and talk after the moment with Bill.
Brady & Belichick. #TheReturn pic.twitter.com/1434KKsb66
— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2021 @NFL
According to ESPN, Belichick later met with Brady in Tampa Bay's locker room after New England lost 19-17 ... staying and talking with TB12 for around 20 minutes.
Tom Brady and Robert Kraft clearly have no bad blood ... 'cause the Bucs quarterback and Patriots owner just shared a moment in the bowels of Gillette Stadium, hugging it out before the team's battle on Sunday Night Football.
TB12 will play his old team -- in New England -- for the first time since bolting for Tampa Bay before the start of last season.
Many football fans wondered what the interaction between Brady and Kraft and Bill Belichick would be like... would there be hard feelings or a warm reaction?
A few hours before kickoff, Tom and Robert met up in a back hallway, spoke briefly, and embraced each other before going their separate ways.
#Patriots owner Robert Kraft caught up with Tom Brady outside the #Bucs locker room. Gave him a big hug.pic.twitter.com/Z0DvhbnhlS
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 3, 2021 @MySportsUpdate
Of course, the Bucs won the Super Bowl last season -- Brady's 7th -- while his old squad struggled without him, going 7-9 with Cam Newton at the helm.
During the week leading up to tonight's game, Belichick -- who reportedly had tension with Brady during his last years in NE -- was extremely complimentary of the G.O.A.T.
Despite the reported beef, Brady seems happy to be back, posting about returning to Foxborough on social media earlier Sunday, saying ... "Good to be back"
Good to be back… pic.twitter.com/0euoXEdCv4
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) October 3, 2021 @TomBrady
Kraft previously said the Pats plan to honor Brady before what's become the most anticipated game of the 2021 NFL season.
Brady -- a 6th round draft pick of NE in 2000 -- played 20 seasons with the Patriots ... winning 3 NFL MVPs and 6 Super Bowls with Belichick and Kraft.
Originally Published -- 10/3 4:07 PM PT
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Lizzo Draws Online Ire for Chris Brown Vid ... Calling Him 'Favorite Person'
Lizzo's pissed a bunch of people off again, but this time it's because of her connection to someone some people don't like much ... Chris Brown.
The "Truth Hurts" singer's taking heat for a video that circulated on social media over the weekend, in which she approaches CB backstage at a concert and fangirls out asking him for a photo.
Lizzo asked Chris Brown for a picture in new video:
— Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) October 2, 2021 @BuzzingPop
“Can I get a picture with you because you’re my favorite person in the whole f*cking world.”pic.twitter.com/QcSYrCiOm0
Lizzo calls Brown "my favorite person in the whole f***ing world."
As you know ... Breezy's a controversial figure in the music biz with a problematic past, beginning in 2009 when he beat up his then-girlfriend, Rihanna.
Since then he's had numerous legal issues and alleged violent incidents, and as recently as 2019 he was arrested in Paris on rape and drug charges.
With all that in mind ... Lizzo fans aren't down with her getting giddy over a meeting with Breezy backstage during a stop on the Millennium Tour, and they let her know about it on Twitter ... with many saying she's better than this.
This wouldn't be the first time Lizzo's riled up folks online for one reason or another though. About a month ago she stirred the pot by dubbing Janet Jackson the "Queen of Pop," and before that she was unjustly the target of trolling ... which got so bad that Facebook started deleting hateful accounts.
We broke it all down on TMZ's new podcast.
Reacting to the footage, one Twitter user wrote: "lizzo, my baby, look at me. LOOK AT ME. this isn't you. i know the real you. listen, it's just me and you, okay? this isn't you. i know you better than that. please."
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Bam Margera Alarmed Loved One Saw Me with a Drink ... That's What Sent Me Back To Rehab
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Bam Margera says he was photographed with a drink in his hand at a Florida casino, and it was part of a domino effect that ended with cops giving him a ride to a rehab facility.
The "Jackass" star tells TMZ ... he had spent 140 days in a facility in Arizona for his manic bipolar disorder before being transferred to an outpatient facility in Florida.
Bam says he was taking daily outpatient classes in Florida, where he was staying with a friend and relative, and his wife and son were coming to visit him ... but when their flight was delayed, he started killing time at a casino.
BM says fans posted pictures of him with what appeared to be a drink in his hand, and he believes a panicked loved one saw the images and alerted law enforcement. That person also claimed Bam threatened to jump off a bridge ... something Bam says was a misunderstanding.
TMZ broke the story ... deputies responding to a call about an emotionally distressed person at the Don CeSar Resort Hotel in St. Pete Beach encountered Bam and gave him a ride to rehab in the back of a cop car. He was NOT arrested.
Bam says he's back in rehab for about 2 months ... and all he wants is to work on himself so he can see his son and get back to filming.
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Claressa Shields On 2nd MMA Opponent: 'I'm Tryin' To Break Her Jaw'
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Claressa Shields says a knockout isn't enough for her 2nd MMA fight ... she's trying to BREAK BONES, telling TMZ Sports she's been putting in a ridiculous amount of work in the gym, and is ready to go!
26-year-old Shields -- regarded by many as the greatest female boxer in the world -- is set to return to the cage for her 2nd MMA fight on October 27 at a big PFL event in Hollywood, FL ... taking on 21-year-old Abigail Montes.
"She a decorated amateur kickboxer. Even though she only has 2 fights in MMA, she's been kickboxing for I don't know how many years in Mexico," Claressa says.
"She comes forward with a lot of punches, so, we're definitely gonna see a very, very entertaining fight and I know I'm gonna handle business and I'm trying to break Abigail's jaw, for sure."
😲😲😲😲😲😲
Shields flashed potential in her first MMA fight against Brittney Elkin in June ... winning via 3rd round TKO. However, she faced adversity ... repeatedly being taken down by the more experienced MMA fighter.
We asked Claressa how much time she's spent defending the takedowns ... and lets just say she's really been bustin' her ass.
"Every day. Every day. That's something we work on every single day, and I've gotten very good at it. Very good."
But, Shields isn't just working on her defense ... she tells us she's also drilled her takedown offense AND kick game.
"If I can stop the takedown, a lot of people's in trouble. If I can go for the takedown, people are in trouble. When I start adding those kicks to my punches, people are in trouble."
Big trouble.
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Akon I Stand By Rich Vs. Poor Comment ... I've Lived Both Sides!!!
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Akon doesn't regret saying the rich and famous go through more issues than poor people, a comment for which he got significant pushback ... he says he knows what he's talking about.
We got Akon at LAX and asked if he wanted to walk back the controversial remark he shared with us last month. No dice! Instead, Akon doubled down, and explained he was speaking based on his own rags to riches story.
He says he knows what he said pissed off some people, but adds he's not backing down from his stance, because, personally ... he was actually happier before he had money.
The whole controversy started in the wake of Michael K. Williams' death ... with Akon telling us the actor's drug overdose was the latest example of a "façade of success" that often sends celebs into a tailspin.
Akon says he's just speaking from personal experience ... but there is one thing he's sorry about.
The artist drops a ton of knowledge, and tells us why money is not always the cure.
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Audrina Patridge Final Custody Agreement ... With Estranged Husband
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Audrina Patridge and her estranged husband Corey Bohan will be splitting time with their 5-year-old daughter ... this according to the judge's ruling in their final custody judgment.
According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Audrina and Corey share joint legal custody of their daughter. As for physical custody, Audrina will get the bulk of the time, while Corey gets 8 hours of visitation a week with Kirra.
The docs say Corey's visits with their daughter will be supervised, either by a professional or someone Audrina is down with ... and he's footing the bill for the sup.
And, get this ... the docs also say Audrina's ex can't be listed as the emergency contact for Kirra at her school or daycare ... but the exes will still have to work together on issues related to Kirra's education, health and welfare.
As we first reported ... Audrina filed for divorce back in September 2017, and there's been plenty of custody issues with Corey along the way.
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Guess Who This Blonde Boy Turned Into!
Before this blonde boy was using his powerhouse singing voice to bring audiences to their feet, he was just another cute kid kickin' back in Los Angeles, California.
This toothy tot is a certified professional when it comes to musical theater ... he's been singing on the big stage since he was 9 years old and even became the youngest solo artist to win a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical back in 2016.
Now, you can see him reprise his most famous part in the film version of the high school drama.
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Grimes Catches Up With Karl Marx After Elon Split
Grimes is going from the partnered-with-billionaires club to the power-to-the-proletariat one in a flash after ending things with Elon Musk -- just check out her reading material!
The singer was spotted walking the streets of L.A. with Karl Marx's "The Communist Manifesto" in hand ... and a wacky D&D-esque outfit to boot. Grimes hammed it up for the cameras, it seems, as she posed alongside a fence, near a street sign and elsewhere.
It's the first time she'd been spotted out and about since she and her baby daddy announced they were going separate ways.
Seemingly having fun with photogs, Grimes writes, "paparazzi followed me 2 a shoot so I tried 2 think what I could do that would yield the most onion-ish possible headline and it worked haha."
paparazzi followed me 2 a shoot so I tried 2 think what I could do that would yield the most onion-ish possible headline and it worked haha pic.twitter.com/9w8pPwIFAq
— Grimes 🪐 (@Grimezsz) October 3, 2021 @Grimezsz
So, yeah ... looks like she knew what she was doing by busting out that old book, the ultimate irony after being with EM for so long -- who's ridiculously wealthy (damn near $200 billion).
As for her out-there look, Grimes had this to say ... "taught myself to stop checking if other ppl think I’m socially acceptable a long time ago. Worrying about being cringe is the enemy of art, failure tolerance is essential for creativity. Deciding not to be mad at ppl enjoying life is ok White heart."
Carry on, comrade.
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Lamar Odom Beats J Lo's Ex In Celeb Boxing ... Benzino Demands Next!!
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Lamar Odom didn't get the knockout he predicted, but the NBA champ looked good in the boxing ring Saturday night, beating up Jennifer Lopez's ex-husband, Ojani Noa ... before being called out by Benzino!
41-year-old Odom beat 47-year-old Noa, who was hitched to Lopez from 1997-1998, by decision in a 3-round exhibition Celebrity Boxing fight in Miami, FL.
6'10" Lamar had a 9-inch height advantage over J Lo's 6'1" ex-hubby ... and wisely used his length to stay on the outside and jab Ojani, keeping him at a distance where Noa couldn't get close enough to hit Odom.
Even though he didn't get the stoppage, Lamar looked considerably better than in his first fight in June against Aaron Carter.
Odom knocked out the pop star in the second round.
Lamar Odom with the first round knockdown of Aaron Carter pic.twitter.com/Ulh6A1ShW2
— Mismatch (@MismatchSports) June 12, 2021 @MismatchSports
Noa, who is in good physical shape, clearly presented a tougher challenge.
But, 56-year-old Benzino, who was calling the fight ringside for FITE, clearly didn't think Lamar looked very good.
"I wasn't impressed with that fight," Benzino yelled in the ring following the bout, "I want a shot at the champ!"
.@IAMBENZINO is NOT IMPRESSED, he's in the ring, and he wants next with tonight's winner @RealLamarOdom.#CelebrityBoxing
— FITE (@FiteTV) October 3, 2021 @FiteTV
[ LIVE NOW ON #FITE | https://t.co/UD5fTcCKlY ] pic.twitter.com/WjCAzImXof
The champ ... at least unofficially is Lamar Odom.
And, there's a good chance this fight will go down. Celebrity Boxing tells TMZ Sports the hip-hop star is under contract to fight in March.
Of course, we broke the story on Saturday ... Odom recently became a part-owner of Celeb Boxing and told us he was willing to continue fighting.
Lamar Odom vs. Benzino would make for an interesting fight ... if CB can hammer out all the details.
Stay tuned!
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'Supernatural' Star Misha Collins Spanish-Style Crib in L.A. Hits Market Swoop It for $3.9 Mil!!!
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Misha Collins is somehow ready and willing to part ways with his Hollywood oasis ... he's put his stunning home on the market.
The "Supernatural" star just listed his Spanish-style home for $3,999,999. It's a modest price for a house up in the hills but it's seriously an opportunity to purchase a piece of tranquility.
The house is nestled in the Hollywood Hills and offers scenic views. The 27,683-square-foot lot is broken up into 3 lots -- a 3-bedroom main house, guest house and pool house. There's also a writer's cabin ... writer's block be dammed.
It was originally built in 1926 but the compound's been updated to include Spanish architecture with a classic red-tile roof. There's also unique Moorish details throughout ... including arched windows, wrought-iron railings, French doors and tiled stairs.
The main house is 3 floors ... with the main level living room opening up to a dining room and an upgraded kitchen with a large eat-in island. The house also has a meditation room and gas fireplaces in the living and family rooms.
There's also a relaxing pool with a motorized, retractable cover plus a nearby hot tub. It's perfect for hosting a fancy BBQ ... with a cabana that offers a kitchen and built-in grill.
Hate grocery shopping and dealing with people? There's a vegetable garden where you can grown your own produce.
Phil Missig of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is the listing agent.
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Dog the Bounty Hunter Wades Through Swampy Waters ... In Search for Brian Laundrie
Dog the Bounty Hunter is searching high and low for Brian Laundrie in Florida ... and over the weekend, he was knee-deep in water, taking to the swamps and getting dirty.
The reality TV star posted a video of himself Sunday, where he's immersed in a marshy swamp somewhere in Florida. He doesn't reveal his exact location, though -- and probably for good reason.
Dog arrived by boat with the help of some local tour guides, he heads into the thick brush and floating vegetation for a harder look for his man.
Just goes to show ... the dude is, indeed, pounding the pavement in trying to find Laundrie -- just like he said he would about a couple weeks ago when he announced he was getting involved in the manhunt, and so far coming up with what sounds like promising leads.
So far, Dog has apparently tracked Laundrie's movement to a campsite he believes the guy might've recently visited ... and now, it seems he has reason to believe Brian may still be in the area.
TMZ broke the story ... Laundrie was spotted at a North Port, FL AT&T store to buy a phone just before his disappearance.
Of course, that flies in the face of what one would-be eyewitness claims they saw just this weekend ... namely, they allegedly encountered Laundrie along a road near North Carolina.
Check out TMZ's new podcast to hear more about Dog's hunt for Laundrie.
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Emily Ratajkowski Robin Thicke Groped My Breasts ... During 'Blurred Lines'
Emily Ratajkowski claims Robin Thicke grabbed her breasts during the filming of the "Blurred Lines" music video ... an allegation she's speaking about publicly for the first time in a new book.
According to the Sunday Times -- which says it obtained an early excerpt of Ratajkowski's "My Body" -- the supermodel claims it happened on set for the 2013 vid, which featured Ratajkowski topless through most of the video.
The model Emily Ratajkowski has alledged that Robin Thicke sexually assaulted her on the set of the music video for Blurred Lines back in 2013 https://t.co/UajGWB3izX
— The Sunday Times (@thesundaytimes) October 3, 2021 @thesundaytimes
Ratajkowski reportedly describes it like this ... "Suddenly, out of nowhere, I felt the coolness and foreignness of a stranger's hands cupping my bare breasts from behind. I instinctively moved away, looking back at Robin Thicke."
ER goes on to say that while she enjoyed most of the shoot, she claims Robin started to get out of hand, which made her think he was drunk.
When the alleged groping happened ... Emily says the video's director, Diane Martel, apparently shouted at him, asking him what the hell he was doing, if she was OK and wrapping production right then and there. Martel confirmed the account to the Times.
Ratajkowski says she felt shame wash over her and feels she didn't handle the alleged situation as well as she could have. Martel also says Robin apologized afterward, and speculated he wouldn't have done it if he was sober.
We've reached out to Thicke's reps for comment ... so far, no word back.
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George Floyd Union Square Statue Vandalized with Paint Days After Unveiling
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11:00 AM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... security camera captured the vandalism in the act this morning around 10 AM ET, when a male was seen mixing something while ducking behind the John Lewis statue. We're told he then hopped on a skateboard and cruised past the Floyd statue, chucking whatever mixture he had in hand, and fled.
Our sources say eyewitnesses were on the scene, but didn't react to what had happened. The NYPD is investigating.
A statue of George Floyd in Union Square has been vandalized with paint not even 48 hours after it was unveiled to the public in an emotional ceremony.
The statue, which is one of 3 -- including Breonna Taylor and John Lewis -- was smeared with what appears to be grey paint ... it's currently unclear who carried out the attack on the art, but it seems to have happened Saturday night into Sunday morning.
A photo posted by reporter Shannan Ferry shows the extent of the damage.
#BREAKING: an organizer from the non profit We are Floyd tells me the George Floyd statue in Union Square was vandalized. It was also vandalized at its former home in Brooklyn. @NY1 pic.twitter.com/H8LUM94dFU
— Shannan Ferry (@ShannanFerry) October 3, 2021 @ShannanFerry
Floyd's brother, Terrence, was part of a ceremony on Friday to premiere the statue ... the Union Square installation is called "#SeeInjustice" and the three pieces each stand at 6 feet tall. They're made from layers of African mahogany plywood and then finished with bronze paint.
It was of course Floyd's killing at the hands of Minneapolis cop, Derek Chauvin, that catapulted the civil justice movement across the United States. Chauvin was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison for the murder.
At the time of this post, there have not yet been any arrests made in connection to the vandalism.
Originally Published -- 9:46 AM PT
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Brian Laundrie I Just Saw Him on Appalachian Trail, Hiker Claims
Brian Laundrie is alive and on the run ... at least according to a Florida man who insists he came face-to-face with Gabby Petito's fiance.
Dennis Davis claims he was hiking on the Appalachian Trail Saturday when says he saw a dazed man on a deserted road ... right at the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. Davis says the man pulled his car up to his and asked for directions to California, but he did not want to take the Interstate ... he wanted to use back roads.
Davis says one of Dog the Bounty Hunter's daughters sent him audio of Laundrie's voice and says it was definitely a match, adding "There is no doubt in my mind I spoke to Brian Laundrie, none whatsoever" ... this according to the New York Post.
Davis went on to tell the Post Laundrie said, "Man, I'm lost ... me and my girlfriend got in a fight but she called me, told me she loves me, and I have to get to California to see her."
He says Laundrie was driving a light-colored pickup truck, like a Ford F-150 and was wearing a bandana.
Davis says he called the FBI and dialed 911 but no one has returned his call.